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 Within
the hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva, Brahma is the creator,
Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. Nevertheless,
Brahma grew in a lotus out of the navel of the sleeping Vishnu.
The daily alternation of light and dark is attributed to the
activity of Brahma.
Brahma's mind born sons are the seers Marici,
Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratuj, Pracetas, Vashishta,
Bhrgu and Narada. From Brahma's body came his nine sons Daksa,
Dharma,
Kama, Anger, Greed, Delusion (Maya),
Lust, Joy, Death and Bharata and one daughter called Angaja.
In order to create the world and produce
the human race, Brahma made a goddess out of himself. One
half was woman and the other half was man. Brahma
called the woman Gayatri, but she also became known by many
other names such as Saraswati.
 Brahma
has four heads, but used to have five. The four extra heads
appeared when Gayatri was very ashamed with Brahma's love
for her and tried to escape from his gaze. The tremendous
tapas that Brahma had practiced for the purpose of creation
was entirely annihilated through his desire to unite with
his daughter. One head was lost later when Brahma lied to
Vishnu and thus caused Shiva to become very angry.
The four Veda's are said to have sprung
from his heads. In the Life
of Ganga, Brahma advised Bhagiratha to ask the help of
Shiva in containing the power of Ganga (goddess of the Ganges
river).
Click here to hear the
Brahma
mantra online.
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